Birthcare & Women’s Health

I’m nearly certain this is the first five star review I’ve ever given. And we aren’t talking about your favorite place to eat, this is a major life decision. I transferred to birthcare at 33 weeks due to frustration with the hospital experience.
I wanted a natural birth. I was low risk and wanted something different then a hospital. I wasn’t ready for a home birth, much of what they do, but opted for their birth center. If I could go back in time I would do a home birth but no regrets. My prenatal visits were pleasant and my entire experience was personal and fantastic. I preferred the younger midwives but they all know what they are doing. Jennifer delivered my second child and I think the world of her!
This place is seriously awesome. I love them so much I almost can’t wait to get pregnant again just to experience their quality care once Again. Check them out, it’s the best decision you’ll make.

my husband and i searched for quite some time for alternatives to a hospital birth, and when we discovered birthcare back in april of 2015, we had no idea of how lucky we were at the time. at every prenatal appointment we were greeted by name by the friendly office staff, and we met with attentive midwives who took a great deal of time to talk with us about the many questions and concerns we had. i have a great deal of anxiety when it comes to visiting doctors offices, but i never felt uncomfortable at birthcare. i was treated with kindness and respect, and always left the office encouraged and empowered. every time i met a new midwife i thought, there is no way the next midwife could be as excellent/​compassionate/​professional/​informative, but every time i was pleasantly surprised to find that each of the midwives at birthcare were on the same philosophical team and provided me with amazing care and support. i highly recommend the midwifery team at birthcare to anyone who seeks compassionate and individualized care during one of the most amazing/​stressful/​love-​filled adventures in life– bringing a happy baby into the world!

Admittedly, I did not have much experience with this facility. Just be aware that they do not offer VBAC which is really unusual seeing as multiple cesareans present more risks than a vaginal birth. Maybe they just don’t feel as though they are experienced enough for them. I’m sure they have their reasons. It’s probably a great option for a first time mom though. They have information sessions once or twice a month.
I am alarmed by the mention of castor oil in one of the reviews. Castor oil is dangerous for pregnant women and I would be surprised if the midwives here suggested it.

If I could give Birthcare six stars, I would. I had two pregnancies and deliveries with Birthcare, and I could not possibly have had a better experience. Birthcare gave me control over my own pregnancies and let me make decisions for myself based on my research and comfort level. I’m incredibly doctor-​phobic and a self-​admitted terrible, hostile patient. The Birthcare midwives were surprisingly tolerant of my bristly nature and very patient with me. They took time to answer all of my questions and put me at ease before performing any test.
Many people expressed concern about «what-​if» scenarios when I discussed my homebirth plans. Birthcare made me feel very confident that any emergencies would be handled appropriately. They have very strict rules about who is eligible for an out-​of-​hospital birth, and they bring emergency equipment and medication to home births. After my first daughter’s birth, the attending midwife (Lisa) noticed that I was losing a lot of blood. While I’m sure this would have had nurses scurrying with worry at a hospital, Lisa calmly treated me in a way that wouldn’t freak me out. This sort of customized, patient-​centric care is what makes Birthcare such an outstanding practice. The fact that someone like me found childbirth to be exhilarating and empowering instead of a traumatic speaks volumes about their talents. I cannot praise them enough.

As the husband I found that the whole staff made me feel excited about the home birth experience. Hilary & Claudia helped make my son Lincoln birth perfect!
Highly recommend choosing this amazing team of midwives and staff.

I had a home birth with Birthcare in October and loved just about every part of the experience. The midwives are all lovely, dealt with me and my first pregnancy nerves and helped me prepare for the birth experience. They are open to working around and declining standard interventions, but also know when to press. I was GBS+ and had grappled with whether or not to have antibiotics (my water breaking before labor answered that question for me!) and were fine with us declining erythromicin on the eyes after delivery. Support provided at delivery was also amazing.
I did feel like I could have received more support with breastfeeding, whether from the midwives or the birth assistants (hired independently from a set list of contractors). My nipples were passed as fine for breastfeeding, when in reality they were flat and baby wasn’t able to latch well at all. Instructions to increase supply were vague about timing and consistency and birth assistants were slow to respond to requests for aid.
I’d have a home birth with Birthcare again, but I would have /​will do a lot more breastfeeding education & lactation consultant visits before and after delivery.

I received my prenatal care and delivered my first child at home with birthcare this month. They were overall a very pleasant experience. The receptionists are all professional and helpful. They learned my name right away which was a sweet touch. The midwives are almost all really awesome. The only one I didn’t like was not a «catching» midwife so I wasn’t too worried about who I’d get when the time came for delivery-​I liked all the delivering midwives.
They take lots of time with you at appointments and encourage you to ask questions and do your own research too. I had premature rupture of membranes at 38w and had to make multiple calls to midwives at off hours. They were always understanding and patient.
I was lucky to get Marsha for my home birth. She was awesome and gave us exactly what my husband and I needed– calm support and encouragement. She gave us space when we needed it. She was perfect! We loved our experience and I will definitely go here again if we have another child!

I had a home birth two months ago and Kelly was there: she was awesome! She encouraged me when I needed, she let me and my husband have all the intimacy we wanted but she was always present any time we needed assistance. She was sweet, professional and had a strong and reassuring presence. She is mostly the reason for these 5 stars!
I should also say that together with her there was the birth assistant we chose (one of those they list on their website) and she was great as well.
Overall my experience at the BirthCare center was very good: every midwife I met was kind and caring, during each visit you get all the info you need without pushing and time limits, any question is answered at the best of their knowledge.
If you look for a place where you are treated as a human being and not just as a patient, if you are interested in having an unmedicated birth but also safety for you and your baby, I definitely recommend this place.

I was VERY pleased with BirthCare! While it is true that you do not see the same midwife each time, I thought they did a good job of making sure I knew each one and had a relationship with them all, such that the one that ended up coming to my home for our birth knew us well.
The midwife that came to our home when I was in labor was outstanding! She led my husband and I through numerous positions, explained what was happening, what she wanted me to do, made sure i was getting hydration, and worked flawlessly with our Birth Assistant as a team.
After a very long time of laboring at home, it was our decision, with input from our midwife & birth assistant, to transfer to the hospital. The part that really made an impression was that the midwife not only went to the hospital with us, but she was extended privileges by the hospital to come into our room and speak with the staff/​Doctor about what had occurred and tell them of my journey to that point, and she stayed for a very long time to help me. She made suggestions, worked with the staff who was helping me, and was extremely encouraging throughout the entire process.
I was very pleased with my experience at BirthCare. It is a small practice and everyone knows me on a first name basis and it was a pleasure to work with the entire staff. The midwives spent a lot of time with me at each appointment and made sure they answered all of my questions, and answered questions I did not know I had.
One thing I LOVED was that I took my own blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, and weight when I walked in. It is such a refreshing change from typical Doctor practices that spend time doing that, and then you have to wait forever for the Doctor to come in. Getting that done before I was even called in for my appointment was great!

After welcoming our first little boy into the world, we are now going back again to birth care for baby #2. They are wonderful, caring, as well as very safe and cautious — which was very important to an expectant father. The best baby care around — so happy with birth care.
–Update:
Baby #2 ended up having a difficult time coming into the world. Baby was in distress in early labor. Birthcare midwife very quickly identified this, and quickly got us into the hospital where mom and baby got exactly the care they needed. As I mentioned before — they are safe and cautious. If anything unexpected happens they are ready. Baby #2 is healthy and well thanks to the excellent care we got, and the sensitivity of the midwife.

I didn’t have a bad experience here, I just found that I did not prefer the fact that it was a group practice and I did not get to choose one midwife to see at each appointment or choose who attended my birth. I chose a midwife over an OB so that I could build a strong relationship with my care provider and I wasn’t able to do that seeing a different midwife every time and then having to essentially roll the dice with who was on call when I went into labor. I also felt that their rules and policies were a bit rigid (no water birth even if you have the baby in your own home, no VBAC, no multiples), but I did know about these policies going in so it’s not like they weren’t upfront about it.

After annual visits the usual doctor’s office environment, I decided to try something different. I wanted to feel like my provider really cared about my health and well being… so I decided to give Birthcare a chance.
I was a little apprehensive at first because I didn’t know if they just focused on pregnant women or women that are trying to get pregnant. When I called for an appointment, the receptionist assured me that they do regular annual check ups.
When I arrived, there were couches everywhere and toys for kids to play. It really didn’t look like a typical doctor’s office. I think they do this to make people feel comfortable. This facility is run by nurse practioners instead of regular doctors. I walked up to the desk, checked in, and filled out my paperwork. The receptionist informed me that I had to take and record my own blood pressure with the machine. I was shocked by this and began to get a little nervous because I never did this on my own. She also told me to take and record my own height and weight. I didn’t really like this at first, but after I thought about it later, it made me feel like I was taking control of my own health. This is a great feeling!
I met with a nurse practioner who was kind, professional, and generally had a warm feeling about her. We had a conversation about my health, and I didn’t feel rushed. She did my exam and filled my prescription. She informed me that because they are nurses, they do not perform surgeries… of course. She said that they can refer doctors if the need ever came up…(which is totally fine with me).
Although it would be nice to find a one stop shop to my health, I really don’t think that place exists. Birthcare & Women’s Health may not be a doctor’s office, but if you are like me and lack motivation for the regular doctor’s visits… this may be your place.
4 Stars!

In the past three and a half years, these wonderful ladies have taken care of my wife and delivered two (soon to be three!) of our children. Couldn’t be happier with their care and wisdom that they have provided for our family.

I scheduled a women’s exam here after reading the positive reviews on Unilocal.It was a great experience and I will definitely be back.
I’m not one for the sterile hospital OBGYN appointments, hospital gowns, or the 10 minute rushed doctor conversation. At Birthcare & Women’s Health, all of my negative views of this dreaded once-​a-​year appointment went out the window.
From appointment scheduling to the exam itself, this place is top notch. The ladies who answer the phones here are so friendly. They found a date within the week to fit me in because I needed to renew a BC prescription ASAP.
Birthcare & Women’s Health is more «comfortable» than any of the OBGYN practices I’ve been to. Julia Perkins, CNM, greeted me in the reception area at my scheduled appointment time (3:00) so I did not have to wait at all. She was so friendly and welcoming that I immediately felt at ease.
The room my appointment took place in was small with a comfortable red couch, a small desk hutch, and an exam table. I sat on the couch and chatted with Julia for a while about different BC prescriptions. She took the time to answer all of my questions and considered every BC option for me to try out, while still advising me to do my research on the pros and cons, which I appreciated. She also called my prescription into CVS that same day without having to write me a prescription. I really appreciated that too.
The exam itself went very well. I felt relaxed the whole time. Julia was wonderful-​she chatted with me and put me at ease. I didn’t have to put on one of those horrible hospital gowns and as Sarah T mentioned in her review, you get the opportunity to look at your cervix… very awesome.
I left this exam feeling like I was in good hands. I’d highly recommend this place to anyone.

I went back to this facility last month. I specifically called to get a refill for a prescription to help me deal with mentrual cramps and menstrual pain. I spoke with the receptionist and explained my needs as they pertained to the medication refill. She indicated that the midwives could help me so I showed up to my appointment. I was escorted to a room and I explained my situation to the provider. She looked at me like I had 3 heads and she proceeded to say, «Well, we don’t give out refills for ‘complicated’ cases. We only refill birth control prescriptions». I was annoyed because (1) I had taken time off to come to this appointment and (2) I *thought* I was seeing a healthcare provider that dealt with women’s health across the board i.e. painful periods not just prescribing oral contraceptives and sending you on your way, and (3) the pain meds were previously prescribed by a general physician back in Orlando who understand that, gasp, women get painful periods.
I proceeded to pack up my stuff and I didn’t have pay the co-​pay, thankfully. Time to look for another provider.

I love this place! After switching to this practice mid-​way through our pregnancy, I have only be treated with patience, professionalism, kindness and respect. The midwives are all great and while we’ve yet to birth with them, every appointment thus far has been not rushed and thorough. Trying to answer any and all my questions and being patient with the silly questions too.
I can’t wait to birth with them and can’t recommend them more for their services. From their front desk staff to their midwives, they are all amazing. Even assisting with dealing with the insurance.
BirthCare is a great model for how women’s care should be!

Title: «I pushed for 13 hours»
I was supposed to deliver my first child at BirthCare. I waited months on the wait list as they only accept a certain number of births per month. I signed up for a 13 week birth class they require. I complied with all recommendations from the midwives regarding diet, exercise, and how to take care of myself while pregnant. The prenatal visits I had were good, and I looked forward to the birth.
When the day of the birth came, things were going well. My water broke in the morning and I went to BirthCare for castor oil to start my contractions. We arrived at the center at 10:30 pm and by 2:30 am I was fully dilated and ready to push.
At this point, when my contractions were the strongest and it was time to push the baby out, the midwife (one of the owners of the practice) fell asleep on the bed. She slept for 30 – 45 minutes at the time when I needed her help the most. At this point, we had only been there for four hours so it was not as if she had been up all night. When she woke up, she attempted to help me with the pushing, but became annoyed when I said the positions she suggested were hurting. I kept asking when the baby was coming and she would laugh, and give me a date a week away. I’m not sure if she was joking but it was extremely discouraging. At that point I needed someone to tell me I could do this, and it would end soon (before a week!)
About six hours later, without checking me again, she suggested I transfer to the hospital. Once I got there, everything went smoothly. The nurses were angels and my baby was finally delivered. All in all, I pushed for 13 hours.
The worst part of this was that I bought into all the rhetoric from BirthCare about how they cared about the holistic health and well-​being of the mother and the baby. I did everything they asked me to do, and when it came time for the birth, my midwife (again, one of the owners of the practice) didn’t even bother to stay awake or to call another midwife in the practice if she was so tired she couldn’t function. I feel that the care I received was negligent, could have endangered my baby, and that I was lied to and let down on the day that I wanted to be the most special in my family’s life.

I made a well woman appointment here in January of this year, after searching for providers that offer planned home birth options. (I’m not pregnant or trying to conceive, but planned home birth is an option I strongly support and will eventually want for myself.) I was really excited that they offered well woman appointments, and I left wondering why I hadn’t seen a midwife for my care sooner!
For starters, the location in Old Town Alexandria is fantastic. The office environment is relaxed, warm, and cozy, and the staff are equally warm and welcoming. I did not feel uncomfortable at all as a single, non-​pregnant, non-​TTC patient coming in for my annual. I had some kind of interaction with each midwife that I saw on staff that day – even if it was just a friendly smile and «hello.» I instantly felt at ease here.
When I met with the midwife who was going to examine me, I felt like she made time to get to know me, address my concerns, and educate. She treated me like an equal – an experience I’ve seldom had with physicians. It was wholly empowering.
Best part?: You can use a mirror and look at your cervix, if you want to. Maybe some people will find that weird, but I left feeling amazing about my body and myself. And how often does that happen after a gyne exam?

Come here, and you will never want to go anywhere else for your pre-​natal/​well woman care. These midwives treat you with respect like no other health care provider will, listening to your questions and concerns and genuinely caring about your health. I’ve never left an appt. wondering if they «forgot» to check something (as I have with most other doctors). What a relaxing, welcoming place.